International School in Brasov, Romania - Case
Study

by Jane E. Hoonhout, RN, BSN,
Greater Grace International Academy

Greater
Grace International Academy (GGIA) is
a K-12 American school located in Brasov (bra' shove), Romania. It began
school year 2001 with a handful of students, most of which were not American.
The founders are French Pastor Philip Ribe established in Romania 10 years,
and Patrick Carter, an American missionary with the previous experience
of starting and running a successful NGO in Romania. Patrick is presently
the Director of GGIA. The past and present nations represented by GGIA's
student body include France, Canada, Scotland, Holland, Germany, The United
States, El Salvador, South Korea, Hungary, and Romania. The majority of
families are missionary type, with some business types. We remain a small
school with a present enrollment of 29 with high expectation of surge
in enrollees following the approval from the Romania government to operate
as a 'foreign school operating in Romania.' This process has just become
attainable through some laws enacted in late 2004 and we wait even now
for a positive response to our application.

We call ourselves an American school because our
curriculum is currently based on the A Beka curriculum, out of Pensacola,
FL, and, except for some matter adapted to suit our international needs,
we function and have goals similar to a private, academia-focused, American
Christian school. All of our present teachers are native English speakers
hailing from North America, Great Britain, and Australia. One of our current
great needs is new teachers for both elementary and high school levels
for upcoming school year 2005-2006.

Recruiting native English-speaking teachers is
a challenge for most international schools, especially those who don't
offer much monetary compensation. Fortunately, Romania is one of the easier
countries for native-English speakers, especially Americans, to live in
as the citizens admire them. English is the language most desired to learn
by the Romanians, as well. It is a wonderful thing to be valued by the
people you meet everyday. Romanians in general are very warm and hospitable.
We have found this to be one reason that those who do come to work with
us here in Brasov for 'a year' tend to remain longer. In fact, most foreigners
who come to this area for short-term commitments may stay three, five,
even twelve years. This intransience might also be attributed to the fairytale
setting of Brasov, nestled in the magnificent Carpathian Mountains in
Transylvania (yes, the home of fictional Dracula). The seasons and temperatures
reflect those found in the northern states of the U.S., and the hills,
valleys, rivers, and forests are a nature-lover's and skier's paradise.
Furthermore, the Old City district of Brasov with its medieval architecture
is enchanting and peaceful; the rest of Brasov is busy growing to meet
the needs of its most modern visitors. Another plus is it can be a relatively
inexpensive area to live and raise a family. It's a very special place
and there exist many advantages. But as with all good things, there are
some challenges. Finding quality education for family members is one thing
that may be difficult.

The longer we are in Romania and involved in education,
the more we observe the desperate state in which parents living abroad
find themselves in regards to their children's schooling. Brave souls
enroll their children in the local Romanian school system. This typically
does not last long due to the ineffectiveness of huge class sizes, theory-based
teaching styles or total lack of instruction, overloads of self-taught
homework, and reports of teacher-student abuse. Students become defeated
and withdrawn-a wretched, heart-breaking consequence.

Or parents may choose home schooling, which, though
in itself is a very useful tool, has potential drawbacks. We have watched
issues such as seclusion, boredom, and familiarity create frustration
in both the parent/teacher and the child/student. Apart from making daily
life miserable, we have repeatedly witnessed this discontent lead to the
eventual breakdown in structure and routine resulting in loss of grade
levels.

Another solution is for the family to be split
apart so the children may attend a suitable school while the parents fulfill
their objectives. Sometimes, we realize, this is the only solution for
parents forced into business priorities. Hopefully, if this is the situation,
the children will be in a school where they find themselves accepted,
cared for, and valued.

GGIA is proud to offer a high-quality education
in an environment where mutual respect, morality, and discipline make
it a safe place to both learn and be cared for. Special emphasis is placed
on creating an environment that encourages thinking, self-discipline,
responsibility, and respect for and the understanding of other peoples
and cultures. GGIA offers a program designed to prepare students to be
well-balanced world citizens while trying to help each meet their specific
goals, including undergraduate education in America's finest universities.
We believe ourselves to be the academic solution to the problem of every
parent of a school-aged child who finds himself called to Romania.

Do you find life's path leading you toward Romania?
If so, let us help you. Being or knowing someone who has been here long
enough to have contacts and trustworthy cohorts is the way to overcome
what sometimes seems like unsurpassable tasks. There can be many challenges
to living in this beautiful, somewhat backward, country, and we want to
assist you in meeting some of those challenges.

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